Whiskey Shenanigans

Trey Zoeller founded Jefferson's Bourbon in 1997 with no formal distilling background.

In this podcast, he tells stories, including the one about putting eleven barrels on cruise ships across the Pacific and Atlantic to test each route's effect on color, proof, and flavor.

Dr. Blake Layfield is Master Distiller at Maker's Mark, the brand whose red wax bottle became an industry icon. In this podcast, he explains how Maker's Mark made its mark by creating the premium bourbon category.

In this episode, Brent Elliott, Master Distiller at Four Roses, breaks down the brand's ten-recipe system, why some flavors take a decade to reveal themselves, and the positive impact E.J. Gallo, the new owner of Four Roses, has had.

Freddie Noe IV is the Master Distiller at Jim Beam, the eighth generation of his family the hold the role. In this podcast, he takes us deep inside Jim Beam's rule-breaking bourbon dynasty.

Randy Warren sits down with Marianne Eaves, Kentucky's first female master distiller, to explore her journey from Brown-Forman to Castle & Key and ultimately to Forbidden Bourbon. Marianne pulls back the curtain on her unconventional mash bills, the use of food-grade white corn and white wheat, and why she believes bourbon's future depends on expanding its geographic and creative horizons. The episode also features a standalone segment on barrel finishing techniques and what they mean for the modern bourbon landscape.

Elizabeth McCall was trained as a sensory scientist. She’s now Woodford Reserve's Master Distiller, the first woman to hold the job at a major bourbon brand. In this episode, she explains how she judges every batch against Woodford’s five fixed flavor areas.

Claudia Coffey, host of The Best Bet podcast and Kentucky Derby Insider with Churchill Downs covers bourbon and horse racing across the Commonwealth. In this podcast, she previews the Kentucky Bourbon Festival's 35th anniversary this fall.

Join us for an intimate conversation with John Rempe, Master Distiller of Rebel Bourbon, as he shares his unconventional path from pre-med student to whiskey innovator. Discover the fascinating story behind Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" song, learn about the revolutionary Blood Oath series that's redefining bourbon blending, and get insider details on limited releases that have fans lining up by the hundreds.

Melissa Rift, Master Taster at Old Forester, shapes flavor for one of bourbon's oldest, most disciplined brands. In this podcast, she describes how she tests unique new ideas without touching the core lineup.

Wes Henderson is a true flavor man. In this episode, Randy and Wes trade stories on unconventional barrel finishing, what makes a bourbon truly finished, and why it's sometimes best to break from standard American aging rules.